Traffic and Parking Commission Meeting November 2nd

There is a City of Salem Traffic and Parking Commission meeting next Thursday, November 2nd at 120 Washington Street 3rd floor at 6:30 PM. (Item vii on the above agenda). The Bus Parking in Holyoke Square will be discussed at this meeting.  Please consider attending to support turning the Bus Spaces back into Automobile Parking spaces.  Please pass the word about this meeting by email and social media.

IMPORTANT MEETING THIS THURSDAY

The Parking Board is going to discuss parking in The Holyoke Square area on Thursday night. (See the attached agenda below). The last ten months have proven that The Bus Parking there is not working. There have been approximately 6000 hours of possible bus parking and buses have only parked there for about 10 to 20 hours. During this time there have been approximately 20,000 hours that cars could have parked there (7 cars times 10 hours a day for 10 months).  The bus spaces on Holyoke Square have remained empty for 10 months. Buses don't park there and cars are not allowed to park there.  It's time to allow cars to park there again. Please pass the word about this meeting and try to attend if you can find the time.  Thank-You!

Boston Globe Survey: Dedicated Bus Parking in Holyoke Square

Should Salem continue to maintain dedicated bus spaces in Holyoke Square? - The Boston Globe

If you have followed this blog for any length of time, you are aware that the city council recently narrowly voted to make the north side of Holyoke Square into dedicated tour bus parking, year-round.
This has had an adverse affect on the availability of parking spaces in the neighborhood of 24 Norman Street.

An article posted to the April 21 bostonglobe.com website featured arguments for and against dedicated tour bus parking in Holyoke Square. Arguing YES was Kate Fox, Executive director of Destination Salem, arguing NO was Arthur Sargent, Salem city councilor at large.
The link to the article is here: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2017/04/21/should-salem-continue-maintain-dedicated-bus-spaces-holyoke-square/TlMapKBUM8CIfEvrk3SR2H/story.html

There was also a survey asking "Should Salem continue to maintain dedicated bus spaces in Holyoke Square?". If you have the time and/or a subscription to the Globe website, please go and read the article, and vote. The results as of Friday were 39 votes AGAINST and 18 votes FOR. Although it is a non-binding survey, anything we can do to make our opinion heard will be helpful. You can be sure that the opposing side will be networking in favor of their agenda.

Holyoke Petition Update

 

A petition to overturn (or modify) the current tour bus parking ordinance for Holyoke Street has been posted to the bulletin board at 24 Norman Street. The tour bus parking is adversely affecting  Gedney Street merchants, and they are also supporting the petition and have their own version posted at Steve's Market. 

In case you missed it, Kate Fox of Destination Salem, (with the support of our Ward 2 Councilor Heather Famico), petitioned to change the City Ordinance pertaining to Tour Bus Parking and make all of Holyoke Square (east side) designated Tour Bus parking.
This process was started last May without informing any of the local residents or merchants of the proposed change. After two council meetings the ordinance passed several weeks ago in a narrow 5-6 vote. Ward Councillors, Sargent, Milo, Lovely and Dibble were opposed. 

If you are feeling concerned about the lack of neighborhood parking now that the east side of Holyoke St. is reserved for tour buses, we urge you to sign the petition. 

This effort is being spearheaded by Joan Zabkar, who successfully headed up efforts to undo the ill-advised installation of parking meters on Gedney St. by Steve's Market. 

Our goal is to collect as many as 4,000 signatures from area residents, merchants, and sympathetic Salem residents from other wards. It is our only chance to undo the ordinance which is in effect year round, 7 days a week between the hours of 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

Please sign the petition!

IMPORTANT MEETING TONIGHT!

The recent petition to change the City Ordinance pertaining to Tour Bus Parking and make all of Holyoke Square (east side) Tour Bus parking passed for first passage 2 weeks ago.
Councillors, Sargent, Milo, Lovely and Dibble were opposed.
It only takes (2) votes to make a City Ordinance Change. It will not become law until a 2nd vote is taken this Thursday night at the Oct 13th City Council meeting. The meeting will be on the 2nd floor of City Hall in The City Council Chambers.
Anyone interested can attend the meeting (at 7:00) and they will be able to speak on the issue, if they sign up on the Public Comment Sign Up Sheet located in The City Clerks office (room #1 on the first floor of City Hall) before 6:30.